AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley offers clear hint about his future with club

Looking to the future: Neal Ardley and the AFC bench against Morecambe

Neal Ardley believes he’s approaching the crossroads of his career as AFC Wimbledon manager.

The Dons boss celebrated three years in the job by bouncing back from the misery of a 5-2 home defeat to Morecambe at the weekend to trump Accrington Stanley 4-3 in an incredible roller coaster on Tuesday.

But AFC still languish in 14th place - only seven places higher than where Ardley found them, and hinted he may step away if things don’t improve.

Future tense: Neal Ardley (Image: Getty Images)

There was a heart-stopping finale at the end of that first campaign when Dons and the boss secured their Football League status on the last day.

They finished 20th the following season, and last time around rose to 15th - a spot behind their current berth.

The 43-year-old underwent hip surgery in March, and the former Wimbledon player furrowed brows when asked if he thought the club had made progress since his return as manager.

“I’m a massive fan and I have a lot of history with this club,” he said. “I’m delighted I’m here. But by the end of the season I need to bring excitement to the other end of the table.

“The league position tells you we haven’t made progress. But we’ve got a better team; a better infrastructure; but if I haven’t brought success I probably haven’t done well enough.”